Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

On the street of and old ruined city, unused vehicles scattered around age showing it's mark on them, flora began growing and in some places overgrowing between the broken concrete of the road. Traveling on the road were Jaclyn and Nikolai, making their way between the decaying buildings who in their youth remember to haw stood tall and proud, now just ruins a sign of the old world. 

The pair of now early thirties year old's was on their way back from their search mission looking for any survivors that would have made their way into the city, the area they were searching was a particularly dangerous part of the city but to them the high amount of Zombies was no problem. They knew as long as they got out before the sun started to lower over the horizon and didn't make to much noise they would have to much to worry about in the open, it would be a different story going into the buildings. 

But even that wouldn't worry them to much as they were trained soldier before the apocalypse and after it got a lot of experience navigating an urban environment. So they were pretty relaxed confident in their abilities, while still keeping they guard up. 

''Still think we could have looked through some more buildings, see if they were hiding from the Z's.'' Nikolai said while walking behind his companion and technically superior. 

''You know damn well, the only places we havened looked through, would have been instead death even for us.'' Jaclyn replied, ''Ohh Fuck!'' she said in frustration as she came to a stoop. 

''Hmm?'' Nikolai made sounds of confusion as to what made Jacklyn irritated before looking and seeing it for himself ''Oh!''. 

Before them was a bridge above the road they were traveling and under it had been a small group of zombies blocking their way. 

''I count at least 7 from here, could be more behind the Trash Truck.'' Nikolai said as he put his riffle behind his back and pulled his combat knife out. 

''And of course no convenient around that wouldn't cost us to much time, just great!'' Jacklyn said annoyed at the faked that they until now easy day just got a lot harder, had it been 4 or even 5 they could have managed to slash they way through them but 7 with the option of more was to much even for them. 

''Well just sneak through them, no biggie.'' He put his hand on her shoulder giving her a reassuring smile. 

''Yeah sounds good, especially since sneaking around won't give you the opportunity to Tackle them!'' She replied with a smile of her own while she punched him in his shoulder. 

Nikolai didn't protest her punch knowing why she did it, a reminder of her displeasure of his less then self preserving habit of rushing forward and tackling the zombies when they got too close to someone or as how she called it, playing the dumbass hero. 

She always hated it when he did it, risking his life just like that in one of the stupidest ways possible. In her case it was even more distressful since she knew him since they were little kids, they practically grew up together and it didn't just stop there, they were always together from learning to take their fist steps to they school days and even joining the army together. He was always there just like her shadow. 

They made their way to the zombies slowly and quietly making sure to stay hidden as they approached them, that was the easy part the hard one would be getting through them to the other side. Using the various vehicles as cover to hide behind or under, they managed to get to the other side of the group, unbeknownst to them was the fact that above them on the bridge was a single zombie wandering to close to the edge. 

Unfortunate to them it would fall of on top of a car right in front of them, the resulting crash of the body would startle them, more importantly however the noise drew the attention of the zombies behind them. The new angle reviling there to be a total of 10 in the group. Using their guns would have been far safer then engaging them with their combat knifes, but it would also attract more of them as the sound of the gun shots would be far louder the one zombie crashing on top of a car. 

Running also wasn't an option as some of the corpses still looked fresh meaning that they could keep up, but also having a group as big as this following you in a higher risk part of town such as they were in could easily result in more showing up and encircling them. 

So the pair did the one thing they could, get into a combat stands with their combat knifes ready in hand, taking on 10 was definitely a tall order even for them but as long as they stayed closed together and covering each other, they should be able to do it. Lucky for them the different vehicles served to spread them out making this a hole lot easier and doable. 

They started to kill the zombies one by one reducing their numbers, one quick strike to the side of their heads was all they needed to do. Quickly show their knifes in and out, move on to the next. Things started to look good as they managed to reduce them to 4, it was then when on of the zombies got on top of a car and jumped down right in-between them separating them as he forced Nikolai to move to the side, right towards another of the living corpses. 

He quickly took care of that one and turned to face the one who got in-between him and Jacklyn, he was met with a chilling discovery. The one zombie who started this whole encounter by falling off the bridge on top of the car stood close to Jacklyn, they both wrongly assumed that he had crushed his skull with the impacts and didn't bother with looking to see if their back was secure. 

He rushed forward to the first zombie quickly killing it and pushing it to the side before going to do the one thing he knew she hated, tackling it. 

Jacklyn could only stand there and wait for Nikolai to do something as in front of her were two of zombies and to her side the one that separated them, if she moved to kill the two in front of her she would be in danger of getting attacked from the side, the same the case if she moved to kill the one on her side. Moving back wasn't an option either as it would put him in greater danger, so she just stood there waiting for him to make his move, unaware of the danger behind her. 

She didn't have to wait for to long as she could see Nicolai quickly move towards her taking care of the one between them, what she didn't expect was that he kept moving towards something behind her. She didn't have to look behind her or ask him what he was doing, she trusted him enough to know what he was doing and let him handle it while she would kill the last two in front of her. 

Moving in for the offense she punched the one to her left with a uppercut to its jaw while forcing her knife into the side of the skull of the other one, quickly pushing the knife out she moved in to finish the last one off before it could get back to it's feet. After finishing the job she turned around to see what Nikolai had been charging earlier, not surprising to her it was a zombie, the part that did shock her how close it was to her judging from where the corps laid. 

She locked to the car only to see that the one who fell and alerted the other was missing, she cursed to her self for making such a rooky mistake of not checking if the fall was enough to end it, ''Thanks for the save.'' she said while looking at Nikolai. 

''No problem.'' He replied a tired expression on his face as he moved to sit and lean with his back against of the cars. 

''Hey idiot we ain't got time to rest, we have to hurry back!'' She said as a sense of unease came to her. 

''Nah I ain't making it back.'' He softly replied. 

''The hell are you talking about moron get up Now!'' She said her voice not sounding more frantic, she already knew what he meant but hoped that it was either a bad joke or a non infectious injury he didn't check properly. 

He didn't say anything only lifting his left hand showing bite marks around his wrist, Jacklyn eyes widened as she saw the bite mark, seeing her worst fear realized. 

''Quick we can still cut off your hand before it spreads to far!!!" She said reaching for his hand. 

''With just our knifes, not happening.'' He said in return as he lowered his hand before she could take it. 

''Well then we better hurry back to the safe zone!'' She said with anger in her tone, as she reached for his hand again.

He however grabbed her by her combat vest and pulled her towards him, forcing her on her knees and on eye level with him, ''J listen we both know we won't make it in time before it spreads to far into my body and I, I don't want to find out what's it like being one of them.'' he said at first with an authoritarian voice before going back to a soft tone, ''I know what I'm about to ask of you is gonna be selfish, unfair and hard for you but please Jacklyn. I don't wanna find out if their minds are gone or still trapped with in their bodies, I wanna go as a Human, please to me this one favor.'' he bagged her fighting to keep his tears not wanting that to be the last image she had of him. 

Tears slowly started to form on Jacklyn's eyes before she closed her eye's and punched him in his chest '' Damn you, you idiot! Why you gotta make me do this?''. 

''Sorry.'' Was the only thing he had to offer her. 

''I told your dumbass a million times not to do this shit, that it would get you killed one day and of course it had to be saving me!'' She said her head facing the ground unwilling to look at him. 

''Heh the irony in that.'' A small chuckle came to him thinking about it, ''I knew the risk and sorry but I rather you live.''. 

''You selfish prick!'' She said while punching him a second time. 

''Again sorry.'' He replied yet again felling guild for having to put her through this. 

She slowly started to raise her right hand, combat knife gripped tightly in her hand, forcing her to rise from the looking at the floor to face him. She pressed the tip of her knife against the side of his head, they looked each other in the eye's one last time as Nikolai closed his eyes bracing himself for the end with the biggest smile he could muster, wanting his lifelong friend to remember him smiling. Jacklyn also closed her eye's not wanting to see what she was about to do, she began to move her hand to the side, away from his head before bringing it back with as much force as she could muster.

She could feel her knife breaking through his skull into his brain, giving him a quick and painless death, she didn't dare open her eyes for a while. When she did she saw his now dead body her knife sticking out of the side of his head and a smile on his face, she wanted to cry and scream her pain into the world but this wasn't the place to do that nor the time, she couldn't even remove the damn knife out of his head or risk letting to much blood out. She took him and started to carry his corps on her shoulder in a fireman's carry. 

She would be damned if she just left him behind like that to be eaten by these monster that plagued this world, he would get a proper soldiers end. Maybe not the one given before the world went to shit but the one they did after. 

It took a while for her to get back to the safe zone but she did it just in time as the sun almost disappeared behind the horizon, other soldier saw her and quickly rushed to her to get Nikolai's body of of her and took it from there allowing her to rest. 

A couple of days have past and Nikolai's body had been cremated as was now the norm, especially for those who died infected. Jacklyn stoop on top of a hill overlooking the safe zone of the city wearing her dress uniform and holding the vase which was holding Nikolai's ashes, she walked forward to the edge of the hill, on both sides of her were other soldier equally dressed giving their fallen comrade his last salute as Jacklyn passed them. 

Once she reached the edge she took a few second before continuing, she opened the vase and put her right hand in it, getting some of his ashes on three of her fingers before dragging set finger across her face, creating a pattern of three lines akin to a claw marks. She then reached back into the vase taking a fist full of his ashes and spreading before her, the wind carrying it with it, she put the lit back on preserving the rest. 

Jacklyn turned back around facing all the other soldier, she was greeted with one last salute before she departed from the hill, all the while carrying the remains of Nikolai. She chose to walk the rest of the way t her home on food, for the next three days she would be off duty, free to mourn the loss, get other things in order and decide on if she would spread the remaining ashes and if where. 

It took her a while before getting back home all the way she was silent, she looked up to her house as she got closer and noticed that the porch of the house next to hers was covered in flowers, placed there by various people, lacking a proper grave to leave them. 

Their houses were next to each other, going with the theme of spending their entire life's together. As she opened the door to her home she would see inside only to notice how it looked darker, less color around and much colder, then before, she did live alone but for the first time she actually felt lonely,  knowing that she could just look out of her window and see her life long companion in his own home. 

She entered her home closing the door behind her walked over to the sofa and placed the vase she's been carrying on the table before sitting down, she looked at it as tears started to form on her face and slowly roll down her face, before it turned into a full crying fit, screaming and sobbing. It's been days since his death but she didn't have the time to properly let her emotions out until now. She spend the entire evening curled up on her sofa letting her emotions run free before eventually going to sleep. 

Chapter Text

Jaclyn woke up from an uncomfortable sleep, her sofa wasn't the ideal place to fall asleep on in the first place let alone the fact that she slept in her dress uniform. She slowly pushed her self up from the bed while rubbing her eye's, her face felt irritated being covered in dried up tears, she was about to get up and go to her bathroom to wash her face when she saw the vase on her table. 

She was hoping that it has been just some bad dream but seeing the vase drove back it was no dream, he was really gone. She was just sitting there looking at the vase, having not a single thought in her head only feeling incredible pain and sadness and she would have stayed like this likely the rest of the day if she didn't remind her self that she had things to do, responsibility. 

Quickly getting up from the bed she mad her way to her bathroom to wash her face and then change cloths, however the minute she got into the bathroom and saw herself in the mirror, the ash on her face, his ash. It was enough to almost send her back into to another crying fit, her feelings almost overwhelming her but she managed to pull herself together before she could give in, she quickly looked down at the sink and washed her face in a hurry. 

With that done she went to her bedroom and change into far more comfortable and casual cloths, putting her uniform away she made her way back into the living room, she took a bag of dog food and made her way to the door, passing by the vase she placed her hand on top of it and said ''Morning buddy, I'll be back shortly just gotta go feed ya girl real quick.''. 

She then she got out of her house making her way to the the back door of Nikolai's house as going through the frond door was impossible with the see of flowers on his front porch, as soon as she opened the door she could hear the three legged footsteps of the little sweetheart racing towards her, Laika a small three legged dog with curly black and white fur, she was the only thing still breathing in life in this empty house. 

''Hey there girl, ya hungry?'' Jaclyn asked the dog with a tired smile on her face as she went to fill up her bowl with food and the other with water. 

She looked at the dog eating her food with a bittersweet look, she tried to move her into her house after Nikolai's death but Laika wouldn't have it, she was determent to wait for him to come back through the frond door any minute, it was heart breaking to watch her just lay close to the door just waiting for someone who wouldn't ever come back. And as much as it was a struggle making her was to go to his house and see her go back to her spot by the door after finishing her bowl of food, Jacklyn powered through it to feed her and keep her some company. 

''Changed your mind girl?'' She asked her after Laika was done with her food and went overt to her for some head scratches before returning to her usual spot, ''Guess not.'' she spend some more time before going back to her own house. 

She was already halfway to her house when she heard someone call out for her, she turned around and saw Nori behind her ''Oh hello Mrs. Doorman, how may I help you?''. 

''I just came to check on you deer, it must be hard on you knowing how close you were with Nikolai.'' The slightly older woman said, expressing her worry for Jacklyn. 

''Ah I see, I . . . I'm fine. Thanks for asking!'' She answered, appreciating her worry of the other woman. 

''Good good, you wanna talk about it?'' Nori asked her feeling that she wasn't quite as fine as she wanted to her to believe. 

Jaclyn looked at Nori and thought for a second before replying ''Yes sure, I could use the company.'' making a gesture inviting her to her home the pair went their way to Jaclyn's house. 

She left the dog food by the door before stepping to the side allowing the other woman to enter her home, walking in Nori immediately noticed the vase on the table in front of the sofa, she choose not to comment on it. Instead she just walked up to the sofa and took a seat ''Lovely home you got here.''. 

''Thanks, coffee?'' Jaclyn asked trying to be a good host, with Nori accepting the offer Jaclyn got to brewing up a fresh pot of coffee for herself and her guest. ''Say I always wondered why was he called Nikolai, was that how Doll called him and it just or?'' Nori began as a ice breaker while Jaclyn was overlooking the pot brewing the coffee.

''No it's because of his great grandmother actually! Being dragged out of Russia by her son to the States, she always refused to learn English and made sure her grandchildren and great grandchildren all would have Russian names.'' Jaclyn answered remembering that old hag or how she used to lovingly call her Baba Yaga. 

''Oh! In that case I assume he also knew Russian before meting Doll then, I always thought he learned it because of her.'' She was quite surprise by the revelation that he was part Russian. 

''Nope, again the work of the old witch.'' Jaclyn was now pouring the coffee into two mugs and making her way to the sofa, handing Nori her mug. 

''Old witch?'' She asked surprised at the sudden change in tone. 

''Yeah she was one of those people everyone thought would outlive the heat death of the universe out of sheer spite. She never had anything good to say about anybody but good old comrade Stalin and her beloved great grandchild Nikolai!'' Jaclyn stated about Baba Yaga before taking a sip of her coffee. 

Nori couldn't help her self but give a small quick chuckle at that, remembering her own mother own mother being the exact type of person herself ''You seem to know a lot about his family life.''. 

''I mean we did grew up together, we went to school together, joint to serve together, ever when the whole apocalypse started we were together and now. . . It feels like a part of me is missing.'' She gave a quick glance at the vase before looking down into her mug. 

Nori put her hand on Jaclyn's shoulder to comfort her, Jaclyn appreciated the caring touch from the other woman as it gave her mind something to hold on to rather then sinking back into a dark place she would have undoubtedly went to if she had been by herself. 

''How's Uzi doing?'' She asked after a short while of silence. 

''She's fairly good, naturally she's sad that he's now gone. You know she always looked up to him ever since you guys found and saved us back then.'' Nori answered thinking about back to that day, if it wasn't for them she and her family would have ended up Zombie food. 

''Didn't she used to also have a crush on him?'' Jaclyn remembered how she used to tease him about it, having stolen the little girls heart and little Dolly always hanging on to him saying that he was her papa and she wouldn't share him. A smile formed on her face as those happy memories went trough her head. 

Nori also smiled even chuckling a little ''Oh God yes she did, I remember the first night in the safe zone she just went on and on about how cool he locked when he blew the bridge up behind us stopping the horde from following us.''. 

The memory of that even got Jaclyn to chuckle a little ''Cool eh? I remember tearing him a new one for almost blowing him self up in the process.''. 

The pervious depressing aura of sadness and sorrow that filed the room was now gone replaced with a much happier one as the two women talked about their happy memories, their mugs now empty it was time for Nori to leave having accomplished what she came her for, Jaclyn escorted her back to the door. 

''Hey Nori before you go I, I just wanted to thank you. I really needed this!'' Jaclyn said looking at Nori as she got out of her door. 

Nori looked back at Jaclyn with a warm smile ''Of course, you two did so much for me and my family, It's the least I could do.'', she embraced her in a hug ''If you ever need somebody to talk to I'll be there.''. 

The two woman waved each other goodbye as Nori left and Jaclyn closed the door, turning around to look at the room she still felt a sense of loneliness but it wasn't as overwhelming as before, she walked over to the table picking up the two mugs and bringing them to her sink. Being close to the fridge she realized that she hadn't eaten the entire morning, and while she didn't really have that much of an appetite or want to eat right now, she knew that she needed to eat and took something out not really caring what it was, she just needed to fill her stomach and keep her body feed. 

Finishing her meal she looked over to the vase and walked over to it with a sad smile, taking it and bringing it up so that she can rest with her forehead agents it ''Time to go see how your kid it doing. Sorry it took me so long!''. 

Placing the vase back down she decide to go and see how Doll was doing taking a page out of Nori's book to help where she could, she also hopped it would help herself in some way. 

Chapter Text

Jaclyn left her house ready to go over to Dolls house, on her way passing Nikolai's one. She couldn't help but think of poor Laika who was properly still sitting by the front door waiting for him, ''Maybe if I bring his vase she's gonna follow me to my house and actually stay.'' She thought to her self. 

The entire way she had been consumed by various thoughts about the things and people he left behind, and how everybody must be feeling now, the sea of flowers in front of his house being proof enough that he meant a lot to so many people. And jet in the all that time she hadn't seen Doll, not that she could blame her, if she didn't live right next door to him and had to feed Laika she wouldn't have had went anywhere near his house. 

After a half an hour of walking Jaclyn could start to see Doll's house in the distance, she could only slowly approach it with a worried look on her face, remembering the state she was in before Nori showed up, she could only imagine what Doll must be going through. 

She walked up to her front door and knocked on it, she waited for a moment but nothing happened, Jaclyn tried again still nothing, she tried a third time this time calling out to her ''Doll it's me, you in there?''. 

Still nothing at this point Jaclyn began to worry and decided to go around to the back door knowing that there was a back up key she could use to get in. She was already halfway in her back yard when she heard someone call out to her. 

''Oh hey miss J, if your looking for Doll she isn't home!'' Said Emily a twin tailed girl with glasses.

''She isn't?'' Jaclyn responded as she turned to look at the girl. 

''No I saw her leave this morning, I think she may went back to work.'' Emily replied to Jaclyn. 

''I see, than you.'' Jaclyn went to leave for the hospital, surprised that Doll would go back to work this soon, she was kinda skeptical about it but it wouldn't hurt to look there. 

It took another half an hour walk but she eventually reached the hospital where Doll had been working as the cities best Doctor. She was about to make her way to the frond desk to ask about Doll when she heard a familiar voic. 

''Jaclyn is that really you?'' Victoria the head doctor of the hospital said as she approached her. 

''Hey Vici.'' Jaclyn turned to great her friend only to be caught in a hug. 

''It's good to see you, how have you been? Is everything ok?'' Victoria asked her worried about her friends reason to show up at the hospital. 

''Yes I, I been doing better recently. I actually came looking for Doll, she wasn't at her house when I came looking for her so I thought I might check here for her.'' Jaclyn answered hooping to find Doll here. 

''Oh, well sorry to tell you but she isn't here neither. Got any other idea of where she could be?'' Victoria's worry now shifted from her friend to her colleague. 

She didn't respond immediately thinking about where Doll could have went, after a short while she figured out where she could have went ''I think I know.''. 

''Good I would help you if I could but I got work to do, good luck and take care ok.'' Victoria hugged her friend again.

''Thanks and I will'' Jaclyn answered as she was on her way out to the park of the safe zoon which was mainly used as a safe place for children to play. 

It didn't take long for her to reach the park, she made her way to the little hill that had a tree on top of it. Sitting in the shadow of the tree she saw who she was looking for, it was no real surprise seeing that this was the place where he had brought her the first time after they got her back into the safe zone and would always bring her here when he was off duty. It's the place where she slowly learned English, mate friends and essentially the place where he gave the little girl a new lease on life. 

This place had had so much importance to her that Jaclyn felt like an idiot for not come looking for her here in the first place, but that didn't matter at the moment. She slowly got up the hill and approached the girl. 

''Who ever is coming, please leave I would like to be alone.'' Doll said not even turning around to see who it was, she just kept looking into the distance thinking of the memories she made here with her father.  

''To bad that ain't happening kid!'' Jaclyn said in return as she got closer until she stopped right behind the three. 

Recognizing the voice Doll quickly turned her head around to look at Jaclyn with wide eyes ''Tetya!?''. 

Seeing her Doll quickly got up from the ground and went to embrace her in a tight hug, tears starting to form on her eyes, ''There there, it's all good. Sorry I didn't come to see your sooner Dolly.'' Jaclyn returned the hug. 

''No I should have come to see you, instead of leaving you alone with the reasonability!'' Doll said as tears went down her face. 

''Nonsense, the both of us had a lot to deal with. It's ok were here now.'' She reassures her. 

The pair didn't say much after that, instead they were both just sitting on the ground by the tree for a while letting time pass as they simply gave each other much needed company. 

After a while Doll broke the silence ''You remember the day you found me?''.

Jaclyn turned her eyes to look at her for a second before answering ''Of course, why?''.

''That day when I first saw you, you all looked like scary monsters to me speaking in a strange tongue, no differed from the Zombies. I just crawled deeper under the ruins like a scared kitten hooping you wouldn't reach me. I was desperately wishing for my mama and papa to come safe me even though I knew that they were dead.'' Doll stated the events Jaclyn was weary familiar with, although she never knew how it looked from Doll's perspective. 

''I was so scared the entire time until I heard his voice, he spoke to me in a tongue I could actually understand, I still remember what he said back then 'Ey, tam opasno, pochemu by tebe ne priyti syuda?', and when I looked at his the sun broke through the clouds shining down on him. It made him look like an angelic figure to me, for the first time since I was trapped in this country all by my self I felt safe, not alone.'' Doll leaned her head on Jaclyn's shoulder as she stated how she felt seeing her father for the first time.

''I could tale by the way you were holding on to him the entire time we where on our way back to the safe zone.'' Jaclyn added causing Doll give a quick chuckle. 

''How is Laika doing?'' Doll asked remembering the little dog. 

''The poor thing only moves from the door when I com to feed her, I tried to get her to stay with me but she won't budge.'' She responded remembering the thought she had when passing his house earlier on her way to Doll's resistance, ''I though about bringing his vase to see if she's gonna follow me back to my house and stay.''. 

Doll's face became saddened by the thought of the happy little dog, laying but the door sad wondering when Papa is gonna come back. 

''I know it might be much to ask but I'm gonna have to clear out it house and I was wondering If you could help me, I, I didn't have the strength to go anywhere other then the kitchen to feed Laika.'' Jaclyn asked Doll seeing if she would be willing coming to that place, she also could really use having somebody with her and help her not break down while in there. 

Doll didn't respond she only looked out in the distance, thinking if she should go, I she could go. ''You don't have to if you don't want to, I'm not gonna.'' Jaclyn wanted to say that there was obligation for her to go, only to be interrupted by Doll. 

''No I'll go, I need the closure and besides I'm not gonna let you do that by yourself!'' Doll responded giving Jaclyn a look that both showed her willingness to deal with her loss but also how scared she was going back to that house after his passing. 

Jaclyn Kissed her on the four head and hugged her close, ''Good, well do it tomorrow, for now let's get our self's ready for it mentally.''. 

The two stayed for some time longer before going back to their own homes, Jaclyn had a lot to think about and reflect on while on her back. Most of all if she's gonna be able to actually gonna be able to do it tomorrow. 

''Only one way to find out.'' She thought as she was getting up the steps of her house. 

She went inside and made a B line for his vase and lace one hand on top of it ''She was doing good, well gonna try and clear your house out tomorrow, see if there is anything well keep as memorials and I really hope that I can convince Laika to come stay with me or Doll. Good night buddy.''.

This time Jaclyn went to sleep in her room rather then the couch in the living room, she's gonna need a good nights rest for tomorrow. 

Chapter Text

The morning came rather quicker then Jaclyn would have liked and considering the task before her she would have rather just stayed in bed all day, but the sun shining through her window directly into her face wouldn't allow it. Plus she knew that it had to be done regardless of how much she didn't want to do it, she had to for him, herself, Dolly and Laika.

So she finally got up and made her way to the bathroom, brushing her teeth and washing her face with ice cold water, before making her way to the kitchen for a quick snack. She would after all need all the energy she could muster for this.

Doll was doing the same back at her house, once done with a heavy breath she left her house and made her way to the place she grew up at, every step feeling heavier as if she was walking up a river and needed to push harder to keep moving.

After what felt like a milion steps and countless hours Doll had finally made it to the neighborhood she grew up at, she looked at her childhood home in this apocalypse and how the front porch was just covered in flowers. For a moment she just stood there looking at it, wondering if she really could do it, she had been brought back by the sound of a door opening and seeing her aunt leave her house.

"Oh Doll your here! It's good to see you." Jaclyn greeted her as soon as she saw her.

"Morning Tetya! We're you starting? Sorry if I'm late." Doll greeted her back feeling a bit worried that she was late and about to let her aunt start without her.

Jaclyn put on a smile as she closed her door and made her way to the girl "No don't worry about it, I was just going to feed Laika.", she said before giving her a quick hug.

"In that case let's not leave her waiting for to long." Doll said while returning the hug, the two then maid their way to the backdoor of the house to feed the dog and as soon as they approached the door they could hear the signature steps of the three legged dog.

Jaclyn opened the door ready to be meet with Laika's typical greeting bark but this time was different, as soon as Laika saw Doll behind Jaclyn she jumped up in excitement and gave a lot of joyful barks before rushing to her and placing her one front paw on Doll's leg demanding to be pet.

And Doll obliged with the little ones demands "Hey there Laika missed me that much? Sorry I didn't come wisit you before.", Doll said as she picked her up to pet her and hold her close to herself.

Jaclyn just smiled at them before placing the food in her bowl, it was nice to see them both be that happy, for a moment it made her actually forgot all about Nikolai being dead and what she was here to do. A short peaceful moment she needed.

"Let's see if she had enough attention and would like to have a bite, why don't we?" Jaclyn asked not really wanting to break them up but also Laika did need to eat after all.

"Yeah, right." Doll responded and slowly put Laika back on the ground, the dog then went over to the bowl to eat.

Doll looked at her eat with bittersweet look on her face but also felt like there had been a huge weight lifted from her.

"Didn't know you needed it, did ya?" Jaclyn asked her recognizing the look on her face.

Doll thought for a second before answering "Da!".

The two then turned to the living room and they both could feel a sudden heaviness come across them, the once so familiar living room felt so dreadful now.

Never the less the two knew that had to do it, they both took a deep breath and took each other's hand before taking the first step past the kitchen. Everything felt a lot colder and the atmosphere was just haunting, everywhere they looked were pictures of a happier past and yet they couldn't get the nostalgic, happy feeling they hoped for just, empty ness. 

And just like the little angel she is Laika came to them and with a bark practically light up the place, the two gave her a smile before looking at each other, "Let's start." Jaclyn said, "Agree." Doll replied.

The two let go and started with the pictures, taking them off the walls and placing them all together, it was a unspoken agreement that those they would all keep without question. It took a bit longer then it should have but they finished gathering all the ones in the lifing room and lower part of the stairs.

After that they began collecting some other stuff and separating them into three piles, stuff they gonna give away and the other two piles they were gonna keep for themselves as memorials.

Doll looked at the old record player Nikolai managed to fix, she the turned to Jaclyn "Hey Tetya! I think you should take papa's old record player.".

Jaclyn first looked at Doll before turning to the record player and then back to Doll "You sure?".

"Of course, after all you couldn't come over without papa puting on something on it, plus you two have nearly the same taste in music." Doll replied reassuring her aunt that it was ok with her.

Jaclyn walked over to the record player and placed her hand on it, it had a thin layer of dust on and a pox oc records next to it, she smiled seeing some of the covers, seeing the wild mix of different musician's, bands and genres. Everything from artist like Madonna and Ozzy Osbourne, Jazz and Metal, song like Hit the road Jack, Stand by me, Sand man and Boogie wonderland and even some old Soviet one's he inherited from old Baba Yaga. It reminded her how close and similar the two of them are, were. The living embodiment of the phrase, two birds of a feather.

"Thanks Dolly, I really appreciate it." She said with a bittersweet feeling, "You know that this means I have to keep up the tradition of playing your favorite song everytime you visit, right?" she said her mood lifting a little remembering how Nikolai loved teasing Doll with it.

"O Bozhe, tetya pozhaluysta net!" Doll tried to argue back.

"Nope it's settled and you better start visiting me you got that? And besides you used to love the song as a kid so why not?" Jaclyn replied making it clear that she won't budge.

"Fine, let's just keep going ok." Doll gave in and resigned her self to the fact that she won't be able escape Like a Virgin no matter how hard she tries.

The two continued to clear out the living room until it was done, they would move on to the rest of the first floor before it was all clear leaving only the second one aka Nikola's and Doll's childhood bedroom.

The two took a small break to get them selfs ready for it but also relax a little by giving Laika her well deserved pets, after all the little one helped them more then they could have hoped for with her cheerful behavior. She was just like her owner a hero in her own right.

A couple of minutes passed and the two felt ready to go upstairs and finish the rest of the house. As soon as the two made it up they were met the door to Doll's childhood bedroom.

"Hey Tetya, mind if I do this one by myself, I'll, I'll think I need a while." Doll asked feeling a bit guilty to make the request but also wanting to connect to the room and the memories inside of it by herself.

"Of course, I'll be in his room if ya need me." Jaclyn answered giving her a small backrub to reassure her.

As Jaclyn made her way to Nikola's room, Doll entered her own, compered to her old room back in Russia it wasn't much but considering that it was a Zombie apocalypse it was nice, especially since Nikolai did his best to make it look as nice as possible.

And Doll appreciate it, everywhere she looked she could see signs that he had loved her like she had been his own flesh and blood. The proof was in the walls and how he gathered enough Yellow paint to color the walls in her favorite color, the books he went out of his way to gather them on his patrols for her to read and the verious toys he either found, traded for or made himself for her when she was younger. But most of all a hand crafted map of Russia he made to remind her of her home.

She sat down on the floor, her back leaning against the her old bed. She sat there and let herself be weak for a little while, to just let her tears flow for some time and grief.

Jaclyn in the meanwhile stood before his bedroom taking in a deep breath and slowly opening the door, for a moment she expected to see him there, in his bed still asleep and she would just wake him up but no. The room was empty, the only Nikolai in the room was the one in the picture together with a young Doll on the counter next to his bed.

Jaclyn let out a breath she didn't know she was holding in before entering, looking around it was the same old room she has seen before, just emptier, colder like something was missing. In a sense she could see herself in the room.

On one wall was a picture of their old squat before the apocalypse and a couple medals, she had the exact same, minus some and plus other medals, on the other some pre apocalypse movie posters they couldn't get to see, the posters them self were restored to the best of his abilities.

Her eyes would fall into his wardrobe and she made her way to it and oppened it, as soon as she did that she was hit with a familiar smell, his clothes still had his scent on them.

She knew that it would be weird but she just wanted to take one and sniff it and her gaze fell on one shirt in particular. She took the shirt in question and looked at it, a Ozzy Osbourne Crazy train fan shirt, it was a gift to him by her father who made it himself, so in a sense it was like a memorial of the two of them. Since she lost the one her father made for her, she brought it to her face breath in the smell of it. 

She then hugged closely and sat down on his bed, it felt like she was hugging him for the last time, she wanted to cry to lay down and just let it all out again like she did the other night but no, she could hear Doll's sobbing this was her turn.

Instead Jaclyn pulled her self together got up and neatly folded the shirt and put it said, this one she was gonna keep, she then went to work and went through his other clothes.

After some time Doll had finally joined her, "Hey Tetya, sorry it took longer then I had expected.".

"No need to be sorry, you got everything done?" Jaclyn said as she was finishing with his room.

"Da." Came the shower and simple reply from Doll.

"Well then I think we're done here, just have to carry it all out! Oh sorry, is there any of his clothes you'd like to keep?" Jaclyn said almost forgetting that Doll wasn't here when she cleared the room.

"Only his old bomber Jacket if you don't mind?" Doll asked, she always had a fondness for that particular article of clothing he owned.

"Of course not, here ya go." Jaclyn handed her the jacket from the pile of folded clothes.

After Doll took the jacket the two would work to carry out all of Nikola's stuff, first everything they were gonna donate into the back of Jaclyn's truck and as they did Laika would for the first time leave the house on her own to follow them to the car and back, then drive off to hand the stuff over at the donation center, then drive back to get the stuff Doll wanted to keep and bring it to her house and finally bring the last of his old possession into Jaclyn's house, where Doll would for the first time be confronted with the Ashe's of her father.

"You sure your ready?" Jaclyn asked her before opening the door and letting Doll in.

Doll took in a deep breath, she didn't know how many of those she already did today, then after a few seconds exhaled and turned to Jaclyn "Yes."

Jaclyn opened the door and let the way, placing the stuff she carried on the floor before stoping to the side and letting Doll in. Doll made her way inside and did the same as Jaclyn by placing the verious stuff on the floor, she looked at the vase filled with her father's Ashe's and didn't say a word.

Jaclyn placed a hand on her shoulder "I'll leave you alone with him for a bit.", she went out back to his house to pick up the last few things left.

Doll now left alone in her aunt's house with her father's Ashe's took a couple of heavy step's forward and sunk to her knees, she reached out to the vase and picked it up "Papa, izvini chto ne zashol ran'she.", she said teary eyed as she hugged the vase. 

Jaclyn came back but stood by the door as she heard Doll's sobbing, slowly and quietly she placed the last bag of clothes, photos and verious other memorabilia on the floor before going back to pick up Laika the last thing left in that house. 

Doll finally placed the vase back on the table when she got startled by the sound of Laika's barking, she turned around to see her jumping out of Jaclyn's arms and making her way to her or rather the table as she recognized the scent of her owner but she looked around confused as she couldn't see him anywhere. After some time of looking around she would began to look at the vase and start to bark at it, as if telling her owner to get out of there.

The whole scene was heartbreaking to watch for the two woman as it was only now slowly dawning on poor Laika that her owner won't come back.

That day was long and heavy but finally over, tomorrow it was gonna be tome to say their final goodbye's, Doll was gonna stay the night at her aunt's house as neither of them really wanted to spend the night alone.

"Here's your pillow and blanket!" Jaclyn said as she  handed her a pair to sleep with.

"Thanks Tetya." She took it and placed it on the bed before turning back to her aunt, "Hey Tetya, can I ask you something? About you and papa.".

"Oh, uh. Sure!" Jaclyn was a bit taken aback by it but willing to answer her what ever she was gonna ask her.

Doll looked at the floor, a bit nervous about the question but mustered up the courage to ask "What exactly where you and my papa?".

Jaclyn looked at her now fully shocked and not really sure if she understood "What?".

"Sorry if it came out weird it just, seeing you two act around each other, hearing the stories of your childhood together, I just. I don't know if you two just saw each other as friends, sibling or. Well I always felt comfortable with calling you my Tetya but I just wanna know what you two really were or at least how you saw each other." Doll explained her question better.

"Ah I see." Jaclyn replied before thinking on an answer, "To be perfectly honest with you, I don't know. That is to say I don't know the exact relationship we had other the to say he was my sole mate and without him, I feel less of a person, like I'm no longer whole.".

"Oh ok, sorry if that made you uncomfortable." Doll said as she looked away from her aunt.

Jaclyn quickly put her hand on her shoulder "Not at all Doll, I actually like that you make me think of that, Lord knows I need to unpack that stuff and I wouldn't do it on my own. Good night Dolly!".

"Spokoynoy nochi Tetya." Doll replied.

Jaclyn would go to her own bed and Doll would prepared lay out the planked on the bad, tomorrow would be another long day.

As the two lay to rest and the night slowly passed, the rays of the morning sun would wake them both up, the day has come.

After a morning of breakfast and preparing them selfs the two together with Laika found them selfs on a hill overlooking the safe zone, Nikolai loved this place and would often take young Doll Up here for piknik's along with Laika and Jaclyn from time to time, this place was perfect to forget the worries of the world and simply relax to forget it all and it was here where the girls planed on spreading his ashes.

Doll and Jaclyn stood side by side and held onto the vase together, Doll places her free hand on the lid and began to speak "Papa I wanna tell you how grateful I am that you found me all those years ago and took me in, that you raised me and for everything that you gave me in this world but. . . I can't help but be mad that you left me, I'm happy to have known you and I'm torn to have to say goodbye forever but I can't lie and say that I'm not mad at you a little, I told you, Tetya told you everyone kept telling you not to play the hero, but you, you just couldn't help but be yourself and I'm mad that I just lost my second parent for it. But I also wouldn't change you a bit, I knew that I was gonna outlive you, I just wish that I could have had more time with you. Papa, ya budu skuchat' po tebe.", she then removed her hand from the lid.

Jaclyn would place her hand on it after her "Hey there buddy, what can I say other then I'll miss you, you where my best friend ever since we were wearing diapers, there wasn't a single day without you in it and now that your gone, it like someone ripped my soul from my body, I promise you to look after Laika and Dolly for you and to keep living my life as best as I can because I know you don't want me to be miserable and it's not easy. It really isn't but for you, I'll try my best. Till we see each other again my old friend, my soulmate.".

She would them open the lid, both her and Doll would grab some of the ash and spread it, fate being on their side a breze would form and help them spread his Ashe's till the vase empty. 

The two would take a seat and hold each other close Laika sitting close to them as well. 

They looked off into the distance and for a moment felt at peace.